"Review: Das Werk's new Pz. Sfl. Ia 5cm Pak 38 tank" Topic

…destroyer VK3.02

"July 1940, Rheinmetall was tasked by the Wehrmacht to develop a new light tank destroyer that could be used by airborne troops. Rheinmetall used the new recently developed Borgward VK302 armoured ammunition carrier as its basis, and armed it with the 5 cm PaK 38. It became the Panzerselbstfahrlafette 1a 5cm PaK 38 auf Gepanzerter Munitionsschlepper VK302.

The vehicle was armed with the 5 cm PaK 38 gun with 32 rounds of ammunition and without any secondary armament. It was primarily intended to by use by German airborne troops, who needed support vehicles that could be transported with them by plane. The 5cm PaK 38 was mounted on top of the engine compartment, with room for one man on each side. A limited traverse mount allowed 40° traverse and – 10 + 20° elevation. Ammunition was stored alongside the driver in the place that was formerly occupied by the commander. To cope with the recoil loads imposed on the very small chassis, a spade was lowered at the rear of the vehicles. The armour ranged from 8 – 14.5 mm. The fighting compartment was the area behind the antitank gun's armoured gun shield. This offered protection only from 7.92mm armour ammunition. The self-propelled gun was operated by the crew of three people: the driver he was placed inside the vehicle, gunner who was placed left of the gun and loader. who was right of the gun.."

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Amicalement
Armand

Interesting little vehicle but given only 2 were actually produced think many will give this one a pass.

ok

Amicalement
Armand

This is an injection moulded plastic kit. My understanding is that it represents a massive initial investment that then allows mass production (assuming there is that demand of course. Laws of supply and etc…)

It will make for a very unusual and obscure showpiece. It well challenge many an expert to identify which captured French, Czech or Polish vehicle supplied the chassis. (None of them of course)

Interesting find, even if it never appears on a wargaming table. (Until it inspires a 20mm version)

Glad you like it my good friend! (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Only a very few SturmTiger were ever actually built. That hasn't stopped modellers building them by their thousands. I love obscure WWII German materiel. The more on the market, the better. Only pity for me is that it's on the 'wrong' scale, for my tastes. I'm almost exclusively 20mm…